HVIT

Risk Assessment

The HVIT follows a few basic steps in the analysis of hypervelocity impact test data. Generally, the analysis process consists of running a series of HVI experiments, collecting and analyzing the damage data produced, and developing models which functionally predict damage for a particular shield configuration, given a set of impacting parameters.

These equations serve as an input to the spacecraft threat assessment model, which will yield the overall risk which meteoroids and orbital debris pose to a spacecraft. This "risk" is expressed in "probabilities of impact", and "probabilities of failure." These last metrics are the fundamental objective which falls out of HVI research.

At the HVIT, testing, analysis, design, and other services have been performed on a variety of manned and unmanned spacecraft. The following case studies provide some insight into the capabilities of the HVIT. After the ballistic limit equations and the near earth environments are defined, a computer program called Bumper is implemented to determine the probability of surface impacts and/or shield penetration.

Meteoroid and orbital debris threat assessments have been performed on a variety of manned and unmanned spacecraft. The following case studies provide some insight into the capabilities of the Bumper code

Case Studies

At the HVIT, testing, analysis, design, and other services have been performed on a variety of manned and unmanned spacecraft. The following case studies provide some insight into the capabilities of the HVIT.

An important part of the Space Station is its Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS), the robotic arm that will be used to perform various tasks on the ISS. The HVIT looked at the effects of meteoroid and debris impacts to the arm itself and its electrical cables.

The X-38 is the X-series name given to the prototype ISS Crew Return Vehicle (CRV). The HVIT has performed numerous hypervelocity experiments using X-38 materials which have helped generate complete threat assessments for the spacecraft.